Not Guilty Plea in Amtrak Station Drug Bust

A central Illinois man who was caught with hundreds of grams of marijuana and other drugs at the Galesburg Amtrak depot about a month ago has pleaded not guilty.

28-year-old Kriss Barton of Rochester made the plea through Public Defender Jim Harrell during an arraignment hearing in Knox County Circuit Court this morning to multiple charges of Possession of Cannabis and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Also through Harrell, Barton asked for a trial by jury.

Barton was arrested April 10th. Galesburg Police reports indicate officers received a tip Barton would be getting off an Amtrak train from Arizona. He was believed to be on his way to the Springfield area.

A search of Barton’s travel bags after initially not giving his correct name to police is believed to have turned up nearly six-hundred grams of cannabis in three vacuum-sealed bundles, along with other amounts of alleged cocaine and hydrocodone.

Barton reportedly told investigators he purchased the drugs in Arizona, and hope to sell the cannabis at a profit in Springfield.

Barton’s next scheduled court date is August fourth, with a trial possibly starting as early as August 18th.

A judge last month lowered Barton’s bond to 25-thousand dollars, and he’s not in custody after posting it.